Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks
Series: The Montgomery's and Armstrongs #1
Also in this series: Highlander Most Wanted
Published by Random House, Ballantine on September 25, 2012
Genres: Historical, Romance
Point of View:Alternating Third Peson
Pages: 372
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Add It: Goodreads
Eveline Armstrong is fiercely loved and protected by her powerful clan, but outsiders consider her “touched.” Beautiful, fey, with a level, intent gaze, she doesn’t speak. No one, not even her family, knows that she cannot hear. Content with her life of seclusion, Eveline has taught herself to read lips and allows the outside world to view her as daft. But when an arranged marriage into a rival clan makes Graeme Montgomery her husband, Eveline accepts her duty—unprepared for the delights to come. Graeme is a rugged warrior with a voice so deep and powerful that his new bride can hear it, and hands and kisses so tender and skilled that he stirs her deepest passions.
Graeme is intrigued by the mysterious Eveline, whose silent lips are ripe with temptation and whose bright, intelligent eyes can see into his soul. As intimacy deepens, he learns her secret. But when clan rivalries and dark deeds threaten the wife he has only begun to cherish, the Scottish warrior will move heaven and earth to save the woman who has awakened his heart to the beautiful song of a rare and magical love.
The Montgomery’s and the Armstrong’s have been feuding for as long as anyone can remember. Their families are fierce enemies and have grown up hating each other so when King Alexander gets fed up with the both of them, he forces an alliance by marriage between Laird of the Montgomery clan and the daughter of the Laird of the Armstrong clan and then…shenanigans.
Rowena: Welcome to our second book club buddy review. It’s our first review with Shy and we’re super happy to have her with us. This month’s book club choice was Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks and it was met with mad love from every single person in book club.
Alright guys, what did you guys think of Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks? Was this the first time that you guys read the book or was it a reread?
Shy: It was my first time reading Never Seduce a Scot and I loved it! It clever, witty and pretty funny.
Tasha: Even though this was a reread for me, I still enjoyed it as if it was my first time. There was a lot that I forgot and as the story went on, bits and pieces was coming back but not enough to ruin the ending.
Rowena: Like Shy, this was the first time that I had ever read the book and I thought it was the freaking bomb. From beginning to end, I was wrapped up in what was going on. My emotions were running high throughout the entire thing and I just thought the author did a really good job of engaging the reader.
Who wanted to fight all of the Montgomery women? I freaking did. I wanted to beat all of them over the head with that sword. What a bunch of meanies.
Tasha: That Kiersten chick was a total bitch to her from the beginning. I could not stand her. But I was most hurt by Nora’s actions. She was the one who ran the kitchen and the other Montgomery ladies kinda followed her lead. When Eveline decided to step out of her comfort zone and prove herself to them all, Nora completely took advantage and did poor Eveline wrong.
Shy: OMG I killed them at least 10 times while screaming Graeme you bloody bloke they’re abusing your Mrs!!! Those Montgomery women were so horrible (except Rory, she’s pretty funny). Eventually, I came to have a love-hate relationship with Nora (the head maid). I hated her up until her heartfelt apology, even then I wanted to punch her in the face.
Rowena: Same. I hated Kiersten right from the very first time she said “Armstrong bitch” to Eveline so I wasn’t surprised that I still hated her at the end. The bloodthirsty wench in me low key wanted Graeme to run her through with his sword but I consoled myself with the fact that Eveline won all of their lives in the end. But man, I was hit right in the gut when Eveline realized the depth of their hatred for her. When she realizes that all of her hard work to try to fit in with them was all for nothing. They were never going to accept her and man, I bawled like a baby for her.
I spent most of the beginning to middle of the book pissed off at the Montgomery’s but boy did Graeme totally win me over when he gathered the entire clan together and was going to fight them all. When he lashes out with, “Is that a challenge?” I about swooned into a puddle of lust for him.
Tasha: Yeah, I’m glad Graeme finally stepped up and addressed his people. I also appreciated the fact he talked to his brothers Bowen and Teague about the situation first. They understood where their clan was coming from, but they also loved their brother and laird and needed to show their support.
Shy: I have to agree with you both, I felt for Eveline when she came to realize that she wouldn’t be accepted by the Montgomery clan no matter how hard she tried. I loved Graeme when he finally laid it all out and started putting the women in their place. I’ve always respected the brothers for standing by Graeme. I really enjoyed when one of the brothers drew their sword on Nora’s husband. I was like, “Yaaaaassss off with his head! Let em all know that your chain hangs low (Don’t ask, I scream the most random things while I’m reading/listening to books)”.
Rowena: This whole book was just satisfying. From all of the crap that we learn about Eveline, what she went through before she got to the Montgomery’s, what she went through when she got to the Montgomery’s and then seeing her really come into herself and live her truth out in the open, it was all just so satisfying to me. I have so much love for the Montgomery’s, Graeme and his siblings, Eveline and her family. The entire story completely worked for me. The romance was the bomb. Graeme and Eveline saving each other at different points of the book was the bomb. I can’t wait for more.
I give this a 4.75 out of 5 stars, what about you guys?
Shy: I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
Also, did you gals feel like Eveline’s family let her down? No one attempted to at least dig a little deeper? I wanted to punch her parents in their faces, especially her dad.
Rowena: I did feel that her family let her down but when we saw how bad they felt when the truth came out, it was hard for me to hold on to that since it was evident that they loved her. They were drowning in enough guilt.
Tasha: LMBO & I AGREE with everything that was said, hahaha!!!
Looking back, I don’t think Eveline’s parents had any real reason to think Ian was going to do any harm. The McHugh’s and the Armstrong’s were cool and had no beef. So when she expressed her concerns to her Dad, of course, he just brushed it off. BUT also, how did she approach her dad about Ian? I’m sure if she was really scared and went as far as to tell her Mom & brothers, they would’ve looked further into it. In a way, that freak accident saved her from being with the sick monster Ian.
And yeah, I can see how guilty they felt. Not only did they brush off her concerns, but the poor girl was also willing to play dumb and be called “addled & touched” then to go through with everything.
Eveline is a very brave & smart lass and I’m so happy for her & Graeme. This book gets a bright 5 stars rating from me. 🙂
Final Grade
Shy: 5 out of 5
Tasha: 5 out of 5
Ween: 4.75 out of 5
The Montgomery’s and Armstrong’s Series
